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Latino High School Graduation Rates Increase by 10 Percent

As our nation’s high school graduation rates continue to improve (with only a 3 percent dropout rate), Latino students are also graduating at higher rates compared to almost 5 years ago. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, Hispanic high school students graduated at a rate of 71 percent, which is a 10 percent increase compared to rates in 2006.

There may be differences in what a high school diploma encompasses across state to state, but the study defines a regular diploma as the high school completion of credited coursework and performance standards set by the school district or state. However, some states award diplomas to students who meet completion requirements, whether or not it stands by the state’s academic standards.

When compared to other racial groups and the national average of 78 percent, the graduation rate for white non-Latinos is 83 percent, while Asian Americans graduate at a 93 percent rate. African Americans represent the lowest rate at 66 percent.

“It’s promising that high school graduation rates are up for all ethnic groups in 2010 – especially for Hispanics, whose graduation rate has jumped almost 10 points since 2006,” said the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a press release.

He also added, “As President Obama said in [his] Inaugural address, our journey to equality of opportunity is not yet complete. But as this report shows, we are making progress in our schools toward living up to the American creed of equal opportunity for all.”